The Ministry of Tourism on 11 December 2025 detailed its support for tourism development in tribal and other destinations across India, saying State/UT governments lead implementation while the Centre provides financial backing through its central-sector schemes — Swadesh Darshan (SD), Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD 2.0), the Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD) sub-scheme, and Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI).
Announcing a dedicated push for tribal homestays this year, the Ministry said it has launched “Development of Homestays in Tribal Areas” as a sub-scheme under Swadesh Darshan and the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan (PM-JUGA). The programme targets the development of 1,000 tribal homestays nationwide — including in the North-Eastern Region — to unlock local tourism potential and provide alternative livelihoods by funding construction/renovation of homestays and community infrastructure. States and UTs are encouraged to top up Central support to further uplift local communities.
The information was provided by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.
What the Centre is supporting
The Ministry reiterated that while States/UTs are responsible for on-ground development, Central schemes provide grant funding for tourism experiences, amenities and core infrastructure at tourist and tribal destinations. Detailed lists of sanctioned projects under each scheme were attached to the reply.
Snapshot of sanctioned projects (select totals)
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Swadesh Darshan (original) — projects worth ₹5,290.33 crore (projects span coastal, spiritual, tribal, heritage, wildlife and rural circuits across States/UTs).
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Swadesh Darshan 2.0 — projects worth ₹2,208.27 crore, focused on immersive experiences, eco-wellness, cultural villages and water-based tourism.
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Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD) — projects totalling ₹648.11 crore, supporting targeted interventions across spiritual, cultural and eco-tourism categories.
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SASCI — Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale — projects totalling ₹3,295.76 crore, for large-scale flagship developments and MICE/heritage hubs.
(Annexures included in the Parliamentary reply provide line-by-line project names, destinations and sanctioned costs.)
Objectives and intended outcomes
According to the Ministry, funds under these schemes are intended to:
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Develop tourism experiences and visitor amenities at tribal and other destinations.
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Generate alternative livelihoods and community income through homestays and community tourism.
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Enhance local infrastructure, conservation and visitor management at sensitive heritage and eco-sites.
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Position select destinations and circuits to global standards and support sustainable, community-centred tourism growth.
Scheme highlights
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The 1,000 homestays initiative under PM-JUGA aims to tap tribal tourism potential, provide renovation and development finance to households, and meet village community requirements.
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Swadesh Darshan and SD 2.0 projects include circuit-level improvements (coastal, spiritual, heritage, eco and tribal circuits), immersive experiences (e.g., Shore Temple, water-based projects), and capacity-building for local stakeholders.
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SASCI projects fund large flagship investments such as convention centres, eco-hubs, iconic city upgrades and experience zones meant to raise destinations to international standards.
Minister’s response and contact
The reply, tabled in Rajya Sabha, was signed off with the Ministry contact Sunil Kumar Tiwari (tourism4pib[at]gmail[dot]com) and included detailed annexures listing every sanctioned project, year of sanction, circuit/category and sanctioned cost.